94 THROUGH CANADA 



from Dorset ; Raven was only four. The former has 

 boats and gillies on the spot ; the latter, on the other 

 hand, entails freightage of canoe and tent, as there is 

 no hotel accommodation there. Whilst this is incon- 

 venient, it also constitutes an advantage, With the 

 growing popularity of the resort, the fishing is not 

 likely to improve. It is not merely the number of 

 fish that are caught that affects the angling, but other 

 pastimes interfere — canoeing, bathing, etc. The 

 wash of steamers is a potent disturbing element 

 that puts fish off the rise. A distant lake entailing 

 portage is preferable, other things being equal. To 

 get there is, however, not always practicable. Labour 

 is scarce in Canada, and proportionately dear. At 

 times neither love nor money can procure it. It is 

 not superior airs or graces that limit the supply — 

 there is none of that It is simply that those who 

 might be employed have something else to do. In 

 one case, when engaging a man that was a skilled 

 angler, the arrangements were complete, all but 

 fixing the time. When I mentioned it, he exclaimed, 

 " Oh ! I am sorry, I cannot go that day. I have to 

 attend a meeting of the Telephone Company, of 

 which I am Chairman." The substitute I obtained 

 at the same rate — I2s. 6d. a day — was the owner of his 

 house and grounds, and had been a successful mine 

 prospector. He was willing to carry a canoe and 

 baggage nearly three miles over a rough trail which 

 rose to a height of some hundreds of feet above 



