306 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



lower half of one of the edges set with a row of pointed 

 nails at intervals of one inch apart, with which he 

 made deep rapid strokes almost like paddling, and 

 having a similar effect in propelling the canoe. Every 

 third or fourth stroke a small herring would be found 

 impaled on one of the spikes. Many of them were 

 leaping from the water like morsels of animated silver 

 as though they were endeavouring to escape from 

 some enemy which was pursuing them. As I had 

 dragged the spoon among them for some time with 

 about thirty yards of line out without anything 

 happening, I removed it and substituted a fresh 

 herring. Before very many yards of the line had 

 been extended with this new bait attached, some 

 powerful fish seized it, which, judging by the fierce, 

 quick rushes that followed, must have been a salmon 

 of 251b. weight. Before the men could stop the whole 

 of my line was run out, and I discovered, on reeling 

 in, that the fish had gone off with the flight and a 

 portion of the trace. Unfortunately, this was the 

 only tackle of that description I happened to have 

 brought, not anticipating much angling ; so the only 

 resort left was the spoon bait, but the Indians were 

 tired with the day's work, and we soon gave up. 

 Meanwhile the old Indian and his kloochman or 

 squaw had been much more successful with rough 

 tackle and without any rod, for in their canoe lay two 

 salmon, the largest of which looked 201b. I naturally 

 requested permission to examine the thing which had 

 thus worsted my more artful products of civilisation, 



