42 SPORT IN VANCOUVER 



Billy was, I should say, about twenty-three 

 years of age, slightly built, but extraordinarily 

 strong with an oar. His temper was not of the 

 best, and when I lost a fish he always considered 

 that I was to blame, and resented the unfor- 

 tunate fact as if it were a personal insult to his 

 own powers as a boatman. 



I don't believe he ever thought of the 

 Cannery or of the sum which under happier 

 auspices would have stood to his credit. His 

 pay was three dollars a day (125.) plus the 

 value of the fish. His appetite corresponded 

 with his pay, which was large. 



He was willing to row all day long with 

 suitable intervals for his meals — but any at- 

 tempt to keep him on the water at meal-time 

 was somewhat sulkily resented. 



We fished together for some thirty days, 

 more or less harmoniously, and there was only 

 one great explosion which threatened to sever 

 our connection. 



Through his gross stupidity my boat, which 

 was being towed behind the Cannery launch, 

 was upset, and I had the pleasure of seeing 

 all my fishing-tackle, fly-books, the com- 

 panions of years — all my pet flies, spoons, 

 spring balance — sunk in sixty feet of water — 

 £20 worth of tackle gone in a moment. 



Fortunately I had taken my rod and camera 



