64 THROUGH CANADA 



yellow framework followed, I saw in it the green of 

 the distant islets, and the glint of the barrel of Mark's 

 revolver that lay close to hand; then the flood-gates 

 of Heaven were opened, and it rained as I have never 

 known it rain. Mark turned over and murmured. 

 "God help the poor traveller ! " to which I added a 

 heartfelt " Amen." 



The morning broke sullenly, the blue sky was 

 gone, and showers fell at intervals. We started off 

 in macintoshes for a twenty-mile paddle across Canoe 

 Lake, through South Tea Lake and on to Muskoka, 

 I trolled with minnow and natural bait, but did not 

 succeed in getting any trout. 



Canoe Lake fishes well during the early part of the 

 season. It yielded one angler a 14-lb. trout, a month 

 before my arrival. These big fish come on the feed 

 in fits and starts. They lie up for several days after 

 gorging. It is when they go on the prowl again that 

 the angler's lure proves so deadly. Canoe Lake and 

 Tea Lake are the highway of the lumbering traf^c, and 

 the fish are disturbed a good deal. Unless off the 

 beaten track, one is not likely to find them. 



In the immediate neighbourhood there are small 

 lakes which hold good trout. Of these Drummon 

 and Cache deserve particular mention. They are not 

 so much fished, being out of the way, and entailing 

 portage across the forest. A portage has its incon- 

 venience and delays, but an hour's sport on some 

 water is worth a day on others. Guides, for an 



