326 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



him, and had the same misfortune repeated before many- 

 minutes. However, by the time I had got thirty yards 

 down the water, I struck another, whose unusual size and 

 activity evoked unlimited admiration. His first rush was 

 truly magnificent ; and as soon as I succeeded in stopping 

 his precipitous course, he returned almost to my hand 

 with the same velocity, preventing my immediately 

 recovering the slack of my line. From pleasure a 

 moment before, I was now nearly in grief, and but for 

 luck should certainly have lost my prize. However, being 

 thus favoured, I got again upon equal terms. A quarter 

 of an hour more, and the gaff pierced his silver coat of 

 mail, and I had the satisfaction of capturing a handsome 

 and well-made fourteen-pound fish. 



That morning I killed eight fish, the majority weighing 

 about nine pounds, and the number I rose and touched 

 must have been quite equal. One salmon I rose six times 

 in succession, but ultimately failed to secure: from the 

 swirl he left in the water I should imagine he was about 

 fifteen pounds. On my way down to the tideway I 

 observed two new specimens of birds, whose plaintive notes 

 were very sweet ; their names I have never been able to 

 ascertain, but doubtless they belong to the numerous 

 bunting family. Crossbills, snow-birds, and cedar-birds 

 were abundantly numerous : and although I did not 

 succeed in obtaining any of their nests, I am convinced 

 that they were engaged in rearing families, as I perceived 

 several gathering grubs and insects, with which they flew 

 to the neighbouring brush. 



Having got to the boat, we started to the reef to try what 



