306 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



lower half of one of the edges set with a row of pointed 



nails at intervals of one inch apart, with which he 



made deep rapid strokes almost like paddling, and 



having a similar effect in propelling the canoe. Every 



third or fourth stroke a small herring would be found 



impaled on one of the spikes. Many of them were 



leaping from the water like morsels of animated silver 



as though they were endeavouring to escape from 



some enemy which was pursuing them. As I had 



dragged the spoon among them for some time with 



about thirty yards of line out without anything 



happening, I removed it and substituted a fresh 



herring. Before very many yards of the line had 



been extended with this new bait attached, some 



powerful fish seized it, which, judging by the fierce, 



quick rushes that followed, must have been a salmon 



of 251b. weight. Before the men could stop the whole 



of my line was run out, and I discovered, on reeling 



in, that the fish had gone off with the flight and a 



portion of the trace. Unfortunately, this was the 



only tackle of that description I happened to have 



brought, not anticipating much angling ; so the only 



resort left was the spoon bait, but the Indians were 



tired with the day's work, and we soon gave up. 



Meanwhile the old Indian and his kloochman or 



squaw had been much more successful with rough 



tackle and without any rod, for in their canoe lay two 



salmon, the largest of which looked 201b. I naturally 



requested permission to examine the thing which had 



thus worsted my more artful products of civilisation, 



