86 Montreal to Quebec. 



through the ice, or the sportsmen have brought down a 

 brace or two of Canada grouse — is roasting on wooden spits 

 before the fire, with the rich gravy dropping on the biscuits, 

 which are to serve thereafter as platters for the savory broil. 

 Then comes the merry meal, seasoned by the hunter's 

 Spartan sauce — fatigue and hunger ; and when the appetites 

 of all are satisfied with forest fare, the composing fumes of 

 the hunter's pipe succeed, replenished with the Indian weed 

 *that briefly burns,' and such yarns as are spun nowhere, 

 unless it be in a forest camp, are told. It is a sport for men, 

 not to be essayed by babes or sucklings. No particular 

 fitness is required, except stout thews and sinews — to be 

 long-winded — and accustomed to field exercise." 



Opposite to Three Rivers is Doucet's Landing, the ter- 

 minus of the Arthabaska and Three Rivers branch of the 

 Grand Trunk Railway, thus keeping this section of country 

 easy of access when the frost of winter has closed the river 

 to all navigation. 



Three Rivers may be said to be at the head of tide- 

 water. In winter great quantities of "tom-cod," a small 

 and very palateable fish, are taken through holes cut in the 

 ice, near the city, in baskets let down and baited with offal ; 

 these being suddenly drawn up at intervals of a few min- 

 utes, enclose some ten or a dozen of the fish, which are 

 particularly numerous here, probably from the junction of 

 the fresh and tide-water, affording fine feeding-ground. 

 Continuing our journey down the river, we pass Batiscan, 

 Ste. Anne, and the Jacques Cartier River (formerly a good 

 salmon river, and beginning, under the auspices of the Fish 

 and Game Glub of Quebec, to again furnish sport), we find 

 the land rising on the river banks, presenting a more bold 

 and picturesque appearance as we near Quebec. St. Au- 

 gustin and St. Antoine, two pretty villages, are soon passed, 

 and the mouth of the Chaudiere is the next object of inter- 

 est. Here, some twelve or fifteen miles from Quebec, in 



