63 



GAME FISH. 



SALMON. 



A few years ago this Province was only famous for its big game, 

 but the fishing bids fair to become a dangerous rival. Every year 

 more and more people come here from all over the world attracted 

 by reports of the enormous fish that have been caught, and they seldom 

 leave without pleasant memories. 



\\'hile there are five species of salmon in our waters, only two 

 of them are sporting-fish. The one that comes in greatest numbers 

 is the cohoe, a fish running from 5 lb. to 12 lb., or even 15 lb. It is 

 generally taken by trolling, spoons of various sizes and shapes being 

 used according to the fancy of the angler, and, if a fairly light rod 

 and suitable tackle are used, there is good sport to be had fishing for 

 them in this way, as they are a game, lively fish and fight hard the 

 whole time, seldom sulking. 



Nearly all salmon-fishing is done in salt-water in bays and inlets 

 or at the mouths of streams. There are also many streams where 

 they can be taken by spinning with a minnow or small Tacoma spoon, 

 and, in spite of all that has been said to the contrary, the cohoe will, 

 under proper conditions, rise quite freely to the fly, as also will some 

 of the spring salmon. Few people use the fly in this country, as 

 they are so much easier caught by trolling, but try a i^- to 2-inch 

 " Silver Doctor " or " Jock Scott," and persevere as energetically as 

 you would in other waters, and you will meet with success. 



Cohoe-fishing begins early in July at Campbell River and the run 

 lasts from a month to six weeks. In August they can always be 

 taken in the waters close to Mctoria and all among the islands in 

 that neighbourhood. Close to Vancouver they are a little later, and 

 only a few fish are taken before the third week in August. The run 

 continues well on into October. They can then be caught up many 

 of the streams for some time longer. 



The second sporting-salmon is the spring, which, when of very 

 large size, is generally called the tyee. These fish run from the 

 beginning of December to the end of April, in fair numbers in almost 

 all waters, but if you want to catch the really big ones you must go 

 north to the neighbourhood of Prince Rupert or Port Simpson. There 

 they run anywhere from 15 to 65 lb. At that time of year the best 

 bait is a small herring on a flight of hooks that will spin slowly, but 

 they will also freely take what is called the " Wobbler " spoon. Any 

 person who cannot spare time to go north in these months can always 



