ACADIAN FISH AND FISHING. 227 



all fish, salt or fresh water, that come to his net, equally 

 good, shoots over the harbour with jerking flight, and 

 uttering his wild rattling cry ; now and then he makes 

 an impetuous downward dash, completely burying himself 

 beneath the surface in seizing his prey. 



If there is a run of trout, and we wish to fish the 

 river, we go to the sea-pools, which the fish enter with the 

 rising tide, and where we may see their silvery sides 

 flashing as they gambol in the eddies under the appa- 

 rently delightful influence of the highly-aerated water 

 of a large and rapid stream, or as they rush at the 

 dancino; deceit which we aojitate over the surface of the 

 pool. Here, in their first resting-place on their way up 

 the river, they will always take the fly most readily; and 

 with good tackle, a propitious day, and the by no means 

 despicable aid of a smart hand with the landing-net, the 

 mossy bank soon glitters with a dozen or two of these 

 delicious fish. 



Should they not be running, or shy of rising in the 

 fresh water from some of the many unaccountable 

 humours in which all game fish are apt to indulge, 

 harbour fishing is our resource, and we betake ourselves 

 to the edge of the sand flats where the fish, dispersed 

 in all directions during high water, now congregate 

 and lie under the weeds which fringe the edge of the 

 tide channels. Half-tide is the best time, and the trout 

 rush out from under the kelp at any gaudy fly, tempt- 

 ingly thrown towards the edge, with a wonderful dash, 

 and may be commonly taken two at a time. The trout- 

 beaches in Musquodoboit Harbour, lying off Big Island, 

 of which an engraving is given, may be a pleasant 

 remembrance to many who may read these lines. 



