626 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



THE MOISIE. 



The following letter and account of the Salmon-fishing in this 

 river, in the years 1863, is from a gentleman of Boston. 



Boston, February 7, 1865. 

 Thaddeus Norris, Esq., 



Philadelphia. 



Dear Sir : I have your letter of the 4th instant, and shall be pleased to 

 answer your inquiries, in as legible a manner as an attack of the angler's 

 complaint, rheumatism, will permit. 



You are probably aware that all the Canadian rivers are leased, the 

 larger ones, like the Moisie, in two divisions — the net-fishing, extending as 

 far as the tide flows up the river, to one party, and the remainder of the 

 river, for fly-fishing, to another party. These rivers are leased by bids, 

 for five years, and one lease has expired.* Owing to the want of any sys- 

 tem of exchange with Canada, one is obliged to send the amount of his 

 lease annually on the 15th of March, in gold, by express to the Depart- 

 ment at Quebec. I suppose the Moisie to be already leased, and at all 

 events do not believe any Americans will be allowed to hire it, not on 

 account of any feeling against them at the Department, but because the 

 English officers and the Canadian fishermen will make an effort to retain 

 their best river among themselves. 



The Moisie is a large river, varying from half a mile to one hundred yards 

 in width until you reach the falls, which are about eighteen miles from the 

 mouth ; and the pools which we fished, are about two miles below the falls. 



The river is four hundred miles from Quebec, and our first two trips 

 were made in fishing schooners, which we chartered for the trip at Quebec, 

 one trip occupying sixteen days ; on the voyage down, the wind on the 

 St. Lawrence always blowing " t'other way," according to the proverb of 

 the Canadian fishermen. The last three years, the Government have 

 taken parties to the rivers, in the steamer which they send semi-annually 

 to supply the different lighthouses ; the trip down, costing for a party of 

 three, with their men and baggage, about two hundred dollars. All these 

 rivers must be fished from boats ; and as the current is very strong, each 

 angler needs a boat and two men ; and these boats, with every article of 

 provision, clothing, and camp equipage, must be taken from Quebec. 



* It will be seen by this that our Boston friends, Messrs. B. and W., have given 

 up the Moisie. 



