204 SUPERIOE. 



If we are to believe the assertions of those whose veracity 

 is unquestionable, this Neepigon Lake is as large as Ontario, 

 with a greater water area. It is the first of the series of six great 

 lakes which comprise the St. Lawrence chain. What a marvel- 

 ous inland water-course is this, extending continuously through 

 Neepigon Lake and Eiver, through Lake Superior, the Sault 

 Ste. Marie, Lake Huron, the Detroit Eiver, Erie, the Niagara 

 Eiver, Ontario, and the Eiver St. Lawrence — nearly 4000 

 miles in all ! And if to this be added the route just traced 

 above, we have a water-course that spans the continent, bro- 

 ken only by a few portages comparatively short. 



And now with a concluding word as to the size and num- 

 ber of the trout in Neepigon, we leave this region to the ex- 

 ploration and research of future anglers and investigators. 



At the first rapids and within sight of the steamboat 

 landing, one may tarry and fish to repletion of desire and 

 basket, without going further. Passengers, while waiting 

 for the departure of the steamer, have caught within an hour 

 or so from off the dock, trout ranging from It to 5 lbs. each. 

 Of one hundred and fifty fish which we have caught, the 

 average, by actual test, was a little above 2 A lbs. The score 

 runs thus, on exceptional occasions : 5 fish, 18| lbs. ; 5 fish, 

 20 lbs. ; 5 fish, 23 lbs. ; 6 fish, 22A lbs. And this is about as 

 they run in the river. There are some small fish, but they 

 are very scarce. Up in the Lake they have been caught 

 weighing as heavy as 12 lbs. In short, one may hook and 

 land on stout gear as many trout as he has flies on his line. 

 I have known four to be landed at once weighing in the 

 aggregate nearly 14 lbs. Of course, the true essence of sport 

 is in using a single fly, so that the angler may have the full 

 benefit of his captive's vigorous play. For activity and 

 endurance the Neepigon trout have no superiors. Small 

 salmon-flies are the best for use — gaudy flies for the lake, and 

 red or brown hackles for the river ; and the tackle should be 

 somewhat stronger than that employed in ordinary rivers. 



