BLACK BASS AND MTJSKALLONGE FISHING. 207 



the unrippled surface, good evidence that the rod 

 and line might find abundant work, and on the next 

 visit I determined to put it to the test. 



To those who are acquainted with the birch-bark 

 canoe it is needless for me to say any thing. All 

 the praises I could sound could not further enhance 

 it in their estimation ; but to those who are not, to 

 them let me say, that there is not in existence a 

 more perfect piece of mechanism for the purpose 

 it is intended. Only learn to handle it properly, 

 and you can go in it anywhere, over shoals, down 

 rapids, through channels where an oar would be 

 useless, and finally, if necessary, you can take 

 it on your shoulders and tramp across portages 

 where nothing but an ox-team could transport a 

 boat. In construction they are models of skill, 

 yet the Indian alone knows how to make them ; for 

 although a white man may occasionally attempt 

 their manufacture, they never do so successfully. 

 On the following day, with my birch-bark on 

 my shoulders, looking like a gigantic animated 

 letter T, I crossed the portage with a formidable 

 array of lines and artificial baits, full of most 

 mischievous intent toward the finny tribe. This 

 day the surface was broken by that desirable ripple, 



