FISHING IN A BIBCH-BAKK. 393 



it properly, and you can go in it anywhere, over shoals, 

 down rapids, through channels where an oar would be 

 useless, and finally, if necessary, you can take it on your 

 shoulders arid tramp across portages where nothing hut 

 an ox-team could transport a boat. In construction they 

 are models of skill, yet the Indian alone knows how to 

 make them ; for^ although white men may occasionally 

 attempt their manufacture, they never do so successfully. 

 On the following day, with my birch-bark on my shoulders, 

 looking like a gigantic animated letter T, I crossed the 

 portage with a formidable array of lines and artificial baits, 

 full of most mischievous intent towards the finny tribe. 

 This day the surface was broken by that desirable ripple, 

 whether it be for trolling or fly-fishing, and dark clouds 

 occasionally darkened with their shadows the face of the 

 water. With exhilarating freedom, deep I dipped my 

 paddle, pushing for the rocky end, waiting till I had 

 crossed the centre of the lake before I commenced to fish ; 

 for, as a rule, unless there should happen to be a reef, 

 seldom any fish will be taken far from the margin. When 

 alone in a canoe one line will be found as much as can 

 be conveniently attended to, for the navigation of your 

 craft requires both hands. Getting under good headway, 

 I soon had twenty-five to thirty yards of line astern, with a 

 few inches of red cloth for lure, which proved so attractive 

 that I almost immediately had a break, and in a moment 

 or two afterwards a fish hooked. For two or three hours 

 such was the sport which continued with never over a few 

 minutes' cessation. 



As I pushed slowly along the shore I came to a river 



26 



