THE NORTH AMERICAN FISHERIES. 15 



men there who are familiar with Isaac Walton, and 

 who can put his precepts into practice, use rod and 

 line, and artificial flies. The Indians employ more 

 primitive means, which succeed quite as well, if not 

 indeed better than those which have been invented 

 by civihzation. In winter, when it freezes, they cut 

 a hole in the ice, sweep it clear of the debris, and 

 drop a bait into the hole, which the trout rise at 

 greedily. The best kind of trout known is that of 

 the river Redhead, and the peculiar flavour of this 

 fish is attributed to the sea-water which mingles 

 with it to a considerable distance above the mouth 

 during the high tides. Among the other localities 

 most sought after is Loch Lomond, beneath the 

 Bald Mountains, and the river Masquash, in the 

 same neighbourhood. 



The basse mounts the great rivers from the sea, 

 especially during the winter, preferring the quiet of 

 the lakes and rivers to the troubles of a life in the 

 Atlantic. He stays in the fresh water until spring, 

 and there " makes his fat." Basse have been taken 

 in the rivers of New Brunswick up to thirty or 

 forty pounds weight, but the ordinary weight is 

 from one to six pounds. In the Eichibucto and the 

 Gemseg, minor rivers in the same state, basse are 

 fished for sometimes by the line in the way of 

 bottom-fishing, and sometimes by large nets set 

 under the ice, and drawn up every now and then. 

 Net fishing is very destructive, and in illustration 



