HUNTING AND FISHING. GROUNDS AND PLEASURE RESORTS. 45 
met with almost anywhere, except some 
few localities. ‘The north branch of the 
Muskoka is troutless, and ruffed grouse 
and small game scarce along the south 
branch. 
The country is easily accessible, and 
the best hunting and fishing grounds can 
be “done” in four or five weeks. The 
objective point is Toronto. At Toronto 
take the Northern Railroad to Graven- 
hurst, or rail to Belle Ewart, and then 
steamer to Gravenhurst. A steamboat 
runs from Gravenhurst through lakes 
Muskoka, Rosseau, and Joseph, stopping 
at Bracebridge, seven miles up the Mus- 
koka River, and the starting point for 
the South Branch and Trading Lake, 
eighteen miles distant. Boats, guides, 
and dogs can had at Trading Lake. At 
Bracebridge, much valuable information 
respecting guides, conveyance, route, &c., 
can be obtained of the proprietor of the 
Queen’s Hotel. Mr. Pratt keeps a good 
house at the head of Lake Rosseau, as 
also does Mr. Frazer at the head of Lake 
Joseph. They are both comfortable, and 
your wife can go with you without any 
inconvenience. 
Parties intending to camp out should 
take their own tent and “ fixin’s;” provi- 
sions and wagons can be procured at any 
large towns. Boats, guides, and dogs 
can be obtained at most of the places. 
Joseph Scott of Gravenhurst will furnish 
reliable guides. and much needed informa- 
tion. Heavy woolen clothing is abso- 
lutely necessary. June is the best month 
for fish; September and October are the 
best months for game, the shooting then 
can be done without experiencing the 
extreme heat. 
Perth, in Lanark county, is good for 
deer and grouse, and splendid black bass 
fishing is to be had among the islands in 
the Lachine Rapids, and in the Fall 
and Spring excellent duck shooting can 
be had at the same point. A full de- 
scription of the Gull River Waters is 
given below, and other noted points are 
elsewhere mentioned. 
GULL RIVER WATERS. 
Balsam Lake lies at the terminus of 
the Toronto & Nepissing Railway, and 
is about ninety miles distant from 'To- 
ronto, Canada. Itis at the head of a 
chain of waters—small lakes—of, ap- 
proximately, from four to fourteen miles 
in length, and short links of river that 
extend as far east as Rice Lake, includ- 
ing in the chain lakes Cameron, Stur- 
geon, Pigeon, Buckhorn, Stoney, and 
Clear. Out of Rice Lake these waters 
find their exit by way of the River 
Trent into the bay of Quinte, Lake On- 
tario. The fishing in these lakes con- 
sists of bass and maskalonge, and, of 
course, the dozen other varities found in 
like waters — perch, sunfish, catfish, 
suckers, &c. The country about Rice 
Lake to the south and north has been 
settled for many years, This lake is 
twenty-two miles in length, and from two 
to four miles wide. It is famous for its 
maskalonge and bass fishing, which even 
at this late date is probably better than 
in any of the lakes more remote from 
settlement. Its wild rice attracts many 
duck, and in October and the early part 
of November every available point and 
every island, at all favorably situated, is 
occupied by a sanguine sportsman. De- 
coying is the method of capture usually 
employed, but for ten years past the 
number of ducks visiting the lake has 
been rapidly diminishing; and although 
ten or fifteen years ago, with less de- 
structive weapons than are in vogue to- 
day, sportsmen were able easily to 
bag from thirty to one hundred ducks, 
