106 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



unmitigated nuisance. The " drivers " are, 

 not without reason, suspected of taking toll 

 of the pools as they pass by them. They 

 would be more than human if they did not; 

 nor are they likely to be particular as to their 

 methods, and there is no poacher's art of 

 which they are not past-masters. A light 

 net can easily be stowed away in the canoe, 

 and when the fish are huddled together in 

 the upper pools torch and spear can be used 

 with deadly effect. 



I can well remember my first introduction 

 to a timber drive. I was fishing the famous 

 Limestone Pool — one of the best in the 

 lower section of the river — the water was 

 in excellent order, and fish were showing in 

 numbers. I had killed one large salmon, 

 and was fast in another, which was putting 

 up a good fight. I suddenly became aware 

 of something which looked like a huge croco- 

 dile sailing down the pool in my direction, 

 and in a few moments I found the floating 

 stem of a large spruce between me and my 

 fish. I dipped the point of my rod and al- 



