IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



motion of the net secured him. The scale's 

 testimony that our dozen averaged little 

 over the pound did not at all agree with the 

 impression given in the taking. These 

 satnurai among trout will remain a stan- 

 dard not likely to be displaced, but the 

 mystery of their excellence is utterly hid 

 from us. Surrounded, as they must be, 

 by all that makes for perfect development, 

 nature lays some mysterious check on 

 multiplication. 



Unlike Lac a Moreau, where natural 

 increase is unrestricted, a moderate and 

 stable head of trout is here maintained in 

 the very pink of condition. Supplied with 

 food convenient in kind and quantity, they 

 find a good living, but are not relieved 

 from working for it. The lake only fishes 

 well in dark weather, or late in the evening, 

 which means that the trout can afiford to 

 bide their time. 



Unlike Lac du Gros Ruisseau, the 

 depths do not yield so ample a provision 

 that the fish lose interest in the table spread 

 for them upon the surface. An extremely 

 rare conjunction holds the balance true — 

 a balance to delight the fisherman whose 

 ambitions are qualitative rather than quan- 

 titative. Man has little hand in this 

 176 



