WONDERFUL LEAP OF A SALMON. 



One of the old members of the chib, Mr. A. W. Courtney, 

 related the following story. Living, as I do, in the city of Buffalo, 

 I have had many opportunities for fishing in Lake Erie, and enjoyed 

 some exciting sport there, but the most thrilling experience of my 

 life in the fishing line was in the rapids below Niagara Falls. Probably- 

 few anglers are aware of the fact that in years gone by salmon could be 

 found in comparative abundance all along the Niagara River, up to the 

 falls. Perhaps the salmon have vanished there now, as I understand is 

 the case in the Hudson, where the salmon fishing was good in my boy- 

 hood. I was a rather wild and reckless youth, given to daring exploits, 

 and it was an ordinary amusement of mine to fish the Niagara River in a 

 birch bark canoe. My familiarity with the sunken rocks and my skill in 

 avoiding the wildest whirlpools enabled me to escape the fate of Capt. 

 Webb, and other unfortunate adventureis. ^ 



On one occasion I hooked a very large salmon, and 

 contrary to the usual custom or habit of the species, he took 

 his course directly up stream toward the falls, and I failed 

 to check him, though I exerted the fullest resistance of' the 

 rod and line. As we neared the falls, I felt confident that he 

 would turn, but he still rushed onward until I could feel, the 

 spray of the great cataract in mj' face, and note its powe%S|^ 

 magnetic attraction drawing my frail craft into the awful 

 vortex of boiling waters. 



In my experiments I had contemplated the pop^^fli^^^^^^''"^fjl' 

 such a calamity as this, and was prepared to avoid iK Along j^' 

 the bottom of the canoe was a strong hickory slao, perhaps jv" 

 half an inch in thickness, and running the full length of flie 'Jj 

 boat. In the center I had placed a powerful spiral spruig, / 

 covered by a circular piece of wood one foot ijQL. diametei:^-V' 

 Stepping upon this I touched a side lever, and was thrown 

 into the air with amazing force, at a slight angle, as I had 

 previously adjusted the spring with coolness and precision, 

 estimating that it would carry me to the immense rjocfafirt* the 

 brink of the falls. 



The force was barely sufficient to throw me upon the rock,3vh^e !'■ 

 found a foothold, and having eased the line which went spinning from tW 

 reel with amazing velocity, during my ascent, I was prepared to continu 

 the battle with the salmon. After a short run down the stream the salmon 



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