THE RIVER 



iAR away in the wilderness of Quebec 

 lies a still and placid sheet of water 

 whose surface is often disturbed by 

 salmon fortunate in having reached 

 this quiet and peaceful resting-place. A stream 

 named the Lake Branch flows from this lake a dis- 

 tance of eighteen miles before joining its com- 

 panion (the Salmon Branch), whose source is 

 many miles farther north. The meeting of these 

 two waters is the beginning of the Cascapedia, but 

 as it rushes onward to the sea many cold little 

 brooks add their tribute. At the junction of these 

 branches is the celebrated pool called u The 

 Forks " ; here, in July, one can usually see many 

 salmon resting. From this same pool, after two 

 o'clock in the day, I beached fourteen fish, keeping 

 only five of the largest: the rest, after my man 

 had removed the hook, were held under water 

 with their heads up-stream until they were able to 

 resist the current ; then a slight poke in the side 

 sent them darting away as lively as when rushing 



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