DIES PISCATORI^. 539 



wards, I got the knack of steadying myself in the canoe, when 

 casting, and used the fly altogether. 



" There is a long narrow island on the Canadian side of the 

 river, and between it and the shore a narrow channel, which, 

 I am told, can be waded in most places, and that it affords 

 fine fishing. If the water had not been so cold I would have 

 tried it. 



" In going up and down the rapids I found that Louie's 

 brother had good reason for taking his net and spear along. 

 In our first ascent he caught three Whitefish in his net, at a 

 single dip ; he also speared several, besides a large goggle- 

 eyed Pickerel. He did not throw his spear when in the rapid 

 water, but moved the iron cautiously towards the fish, and 

 then with a thrust pinned it to the bottom, when the ashen 

 handle would quiver and shake with the death-struggle of 

 the victim and the force of the current. He frequently tried 

 to point out a fish to me before he speared it, but it was no 

 use ; I could not see it through the rushing water. 



" In the rapids the canoe was at all times under perfect 

 control. In ascending, advantage was always taken of any 

 eddy formed below a ledge, or a large rock that jutted above, 

 or came near the surface, the light bark was pushed along 

 the still water, and then turned quickly into the sharp cur- 

 rent at the side of the rock, when there would be a fierce 

 struggle, the water foaming and boiling almost over the bow 

 as it was forced up the declivity. Sometimes the delicate 

 ribs of the canoe would bend as the thin sides were com- 

 pressed in passing between rocks where it would have been 

 impossible for an ordinary boat to get through, or where its 

 stiff" planks would have been broken. What was most aston- 

 ishing, though, was the way that Auguste alone would hold 

 the canoe steady with his setting-pole, when we stopped to 

 fish, the bow always dividing the current equally, and neve 

 veering in the least to one side or the other. 



