Salmoii -Fishing. 



441 



ourselves and all our luggage across the swollen York by repeated 

 trips in a small dug-out, at a place some six miles from its mouth. 

 After crossing, our provisions and luggage were taken in large 

 boxes mounted upon stout timber sled-runners, this being the only 

 conveyance that would stand a nine- mile trip over a slightly widened 

 forest trail. We took saddle-horses, but yet found the trip most 

 tedious by reason of the " windfalls " which had to be cut away by 

 our canoe-men, who carried axes for the purpose, and by the swamp 

 mud through which we frequently had to wade our horses. 



The fishing of 1875 was comparatively a failure, less than twenty 

 being killed by three of us during a week on the St. John. A friend 

 of mine, Douglass, one day hooked an ugly fish, which played him 

 all known pranks, and seemed, in addition, to extemporize a few for 

 the occasion. The fish leaped out of water enough to make it excit- 

 ing, but not enough to tire himself out. He tried pulling constantly 

 backward and forward in quick, short jerks, which is the worst thing a 

 fish ever does. This makes the coolest angler nervous and anxious, 

 for unless line is upon the instant given, the hook is pulled out, or the 



gut broken. The fish 

 came down in view of 

 the house, when, com- 

 paring the pluck and 

 strategy of the fish with 

 the skill of our friend, 

 we counted the fish a 

 trifle ahead. Of course, 

 when near either bank, 

 the men took care to 

 keep on the shore side 

 of the fish, so that wh< 11 

 he suddenly rushed for 

 deep water he would not 

 pass under the canoe 

 and break loose. In spite, however, of all precautions, the fish made 

 a dash to run under, and one of the men gave a quick, powerful 

 push on his setting-pole, which unfortunately rested upon a flat, 

 slippery rock. The next instant our view was cut off by an immense 

 pair of caribou hide boots, which seemed suspended in mid-air. 



EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY. 



