34 The River Saguenay. 



and all its tributaries. Those of the Saguenay, however, are 

 the largest, most abundant, and of the finest quality. Almost 

 every bay or cove is crowded with trout, and, generally 

 speaking, the rocks upon which you have to stand afford an 

 abundance of room to swing and drop the fly. Besides this, 

 fishing in this region possesses a charm which the angler 

 seldom experiences elsewhere, viz. : the uncertainty as to 

 the character of the prize before it is landed, as it may be a 

 common, or salmon-trout, or a regular-built salmon. It is 

 reported of a celebrated Quebec sportsman, that he captured 

 in one week on the Esquemain seventy salmon, and upwards 

 of a hundred trout. Between this river and the Marguerite 

 are the branches of the Bergeronne, which also afford excel- 

 lent sport. [At the end of this article the tourist wiii find a 

 list of salmon and trout rivers.] Seal-hunting is a favourite 

 sport with those who resort to these shores ; this animal is 

 found in great abundance, and several varieties are here met 

 with. The usual method is to start from Tadoussac wdth a 

 yawl and canoe, and steer for a spot in the St. Lawrence 

 where the waters of the Saguenay and the flood-tide come 

 together, causing a great commotion. The seal seems to 

 delight in frequenting the deepest water and most turbulent 

 whirlpools, and the object of using the canoe is to steal 

 upon him in the most successful manner. As the seal makes 

 its appearance, the hunter throws a harpoon, to which is 

 attached a line with a buoy ; great dexterity is requisite not 

 to upset the canoe ; in the event, however, of such an acci- 

 dent, the yawl is at hand to pick up the swimmer, as w^ell 

 as to receive the animal when dead. Another method of 

 capturing them is to pass over in a canoe to a sandy point 

 called " aux Alouettes," and secreting yourself among the 

 rocks, await the game. Hither they resort in great numbers 

 to sun themselves, and they can be picked off by the hunter 

 quite leisurely, provided he does not show himself Again, 

 if sufficient time is allowed for the tide to ebb a considerable 



