SALMON FISHING IN LABRADOR. 205 



succumbed in less than twenty minutes. Moving 

 my position from some slow water, I took a cast in 

 the throat of a stream formed by the projection of 

 some rocks, not that I expected to rise a fish, but to 

 get the line out of my way as I scrambled over some 

 rough ground; in fact the water, although rapid, 

 looked too shallow for the retreat of anything over a 

 pound weight. With surprise I rose a fine brook trout 

 (Salmo fontinalis). Of course such a fish was not to 

 be despised, so I gave him a second chance, and had 

 the satisfaction of succeeding in striking him. With 

 my strong tackle and rod I treated him cavalierly, 

 and, in about ten minutes, had the pleasure of hand- 

 ling and canvassing his weight, which was a trifle over 

 five pounds. 



I never remember to have seen a fish of more bril- 

 liant colouring and beautiful proportions, and I have 

 little doubt that on a seven- ounce trout-rod he would 

 have given a good half-hour's pleasure. These streams 

 or those which lie in this portion of the American 

 continent swarm with trout, more particularly when 

 you ascend some distance above the tideway ; and 

 from information I have received from fishermen who 

 are acquainted with those waters that lie nearer to 

 civilisation, I have reason to believe that brook trout 

 can there be caught upwards of ten pounds in weight. 



