SALMON FISHING IN LABRADOR. 197 



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 satisfaction 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 ascer- 

 tain, but doubtlessly 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 con- 

 vinced 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 



