316 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



rush was truly magnificent; and as soon as I suc- 

 ceeded in stopping his precipitous course, he returned 

 almost to my hand with the same velocity, preventing 

 my immediately recovering the slack of my line. From 

 pleasure a moment before I was now nearly in grief, 

 and but for luck should certainly have lost my prize. 

 However, being thus favoured, I got again upon equal 

 terms. A quarter of an hour more, and the gaff 

 pierced his silver coat of mail, and I had the satisfac- 

 tion of capturing a handsome and well-made fourteen- 

 pound fish. 



That morning I killed eight fish, the majority 

 weighing about nine pounds, and the number I rose 

 and touched must have been quite equal. One salmon 

 I rose six times in succession, but ultimately failed to 

 secure : from the swirl he left in the water I should 

 imagine he was about fifteen pounds. On my way 

 down to the tideway I observed two new specimens of 

 birds, whose plaintive notes were very sweet; their 

 names I have never been able to ascertain, but doubt- 

 less they belong to the numerous bunting family. 

 Crossbills, snow-birds, and cedar-birds were abundantly 

 numerous : and although I did not succeed in obtaining 

 any of their nests, I am convinced that they were 

 engaged in rearing families, as I perceived several 

 gathering grubs and insects, with which they flew to 

 the neighbouring brush. 



Having got to the boat, we started for the reef to 

 try what could be done with the seals. But they did 

 not like our appearance, and commenced scuffling off 

 the rocks and dropping into the water ere we got within 

 range. However, one old scoundrel grim and savage- 

 looking through age appeared less alarmed than his 



