SPORTING SKETCHES. 235 



there, while on the eastern shore of Victoria Bay stands the 

 handsome club house of a defunct fishing club. 



On arrival of the steamer at Woburn wharf our duffle was un- 

 loaded and we adjourned to Madame Cameron's hostelry to 

 arrange for transportation to our camping ground. The name 

 Cameron does not convey the idea of a native of Sunny France, 

 but one should not judge by names in this part of the world for 

 the Madame was a buxom French woman and what was more 

 had two buxom daughters who. were ministering angels to ou r 

 hungry crowd. B'rer Rabbit's tender glances rendered us a favor 

 on this occasion. 



Can some brother sportsman give a reason why any man carry- 

 ing a rod or .gun is almost invariably subject to the most wanton 

 extortion ? We contracted for the only boat (and to call it a boat 

 is supreme politeness) at the head of the lake to carry our tent, 

 provisions and pack bags to the camping ground on Foster's 

 clearing, distant some three miles. The bargain was definite, of 

 that I am sure, for I seconded the transportation committee in 

 his vain efforts to beat the sou of a Cameron down to a figure 

 which would not put to shame a lawyer's retaining fee ; at any 

 rate, about two miles from the wharf our aimiable friend struck 

 for double price, giving us as a reason that we were going further 

 than was called for in the bond he thought, poor fellow, that we 

 had arranged to camp in Lake Megantic, and the result was that 

 we were compelled to pay it or dump the load. I never thought 

 that a man or boy could stand so much wholesome abuse for one 

 miserable dollar. 



Arriving at camp we pitched our tent in time for dinner, and 

 while the preparation thereof is in progress I will explain the 

 location of the camp, than which none better exists in the region. 



Situated on a cleared knoll rising pretty sharply from the 

 Lower Spider river and about 100 feet therefrom, and about a 

 mile from the head of Lake Megantic, one-fourth of a mile above 

 the confluence of the Arnold and Spider rivers, one-fourth of a 

 mile below Rush lake, which flows into Lake Megantic through 

 the Lower Spider river, and about three-quarters of a mile from 

 Spider lake which flows into Rush lake through the channel of 

 the Upper Spider river, it thus stands between three lakes, 

 Spider, Rush and Megantic and is almost encircled by lakes and 

 rivers. It is called " Foster's clearing" after an old trapper and 



