42 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



The trout usually begin taking the artificial fly in 

 the early part of July, but although we had been 

 warned that they were not as yet rising this year, 

 we had no anticipation of the wretched luck that 

 awaited us. Notwithstanding the water seemed 

 promising, and deep, dark holes, beautiful eddies, 

 and lively pools indicated success ; and notwithstand- 

 ing continual changes of our flies, we only killed 

 three small fish. Perhaps the numerous natural in- 

 sects, or the larvce from which they were metamor- 

 phosed, proved a sufficient and preferable food ; we 

 could not induce the trout to rise, and did not even 

 see them breaking. 



Exploring all the little streams of the Canadian 

 side, hoping at every cast to improve our luck, we 

 worked our way slowly and arduously, for the water 

 was unusually low, against the current, and steadily 

 ascending with the strenuous efforts of our canoe 

 men, who used stout poles for the purpose, we at 

 last emerged above the islands and at the head of 

 the rapids. 



Here the water of the lake, confined to the narrow 

 channel, chafed uneasily in tiny wavelets, as though 

 conscious of the approaching struggle. Above, the 

 river stretched away to the westward, evidently 

 from a considerable elevation but comparatively 

 smooth ; nearer, it was rushing like a mill-race ; below 

 it was broken into white waves, huge cascades, and 

 seething rapids. How wonderful is the change in 

 the appearance of water lying calmly in the lake, 

 hurrying rapidly but silently down a smooth slope, 



