250 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



were now retracing our course to Quebec in the good 

 yacht Iroquois, with a light breeze from the eastward, which, 

 when we had got about fifteen miles west of the Peroquet 

 Islands, subsided into a complete calm. We were not 

 long in the listless state which such circumstances usually 

 produce, for one of our crew discovered an extraordinary 

 appearance at about two miles' distance from us, which as 

 it was carefully examined by the aid of our telescopes 

 became more and more strange to look upon. It looked 

 like a brig turned upside down, its masts seeming to rest 

 upon the water, while its hull was elevated in the air, 

 and crowned with two large crescents. This vision quickly 

 changed its form, and the crescents appeared to approach 

 us obliquely, while the hulls of the vessels retained their 

 original shape. 



Whoever has sailed in summer among the Mingan and 

 Peroquet Islands, has observed many wonders worked by 

 the mirage. Sometimes, whatever may be the shape of 

 the rock or island, its top seems raised and flattened, 

 generally extending in a horizontal line so far on each side, 

 as at least to equal the base in extent, often beyond it ; 

 whilst midway between the base and distorted top, the figure 

 is contracted, having the appearance of a neck. 



When two islands lie close together, these flattened 

 tops sometimes meet, giving the appearance of an arch 

 from one to the other. Vessels may be seen inverted, 



