624 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



they found one enormous 30 lb. fish lying at the edge of the fall in 

 shallow water, so bruised and cut from being dashed against the rocks, 

 that though in high fleshy condition, he allowed himself to be lifted out 

 of the water. He was however left there, poor thing, and died the second 

 day. Saw an immense black bear at the falls; came within thirty yards; 

 numbers of them collect there after the Salmon. The Indian Miskind says 

 a similar fall exists three miles up the left fork, and that the great mass 

 of fish go up this fork in preference to the right. The fish however, he 

 says, overcome both falls, and advance to the very sources of the river, 280 

 miles inland. Collingwood killed thirteen fish, nearly all in one day : 

 their weight 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9 : and Fournier gaffed one of 

 15 lbs. out of the foaming water. Any number might have been gaffed 

 in this way. Not a good fishing-ground— only one pool close to the fall, 

 and fearful rapids below ; so unless tackle is A 1, the fish gets into those 

 rapids and must get away — no following him. Collingwood lost a great 

 number in this way. Some fine pools exist a mile below the falls, but at 

 this late season all fish had gone further up. The ground at the bottom 

 of the fall pool, they say, is regularly littered with thousands of Salmon. 

 Took two days going up, but might have done it in one, it being about 

 twenty miles up from the great rapid, not twenty-seven. Report number- 

 less bear-tracks about the place, as also cariboo. The Indian says num- 

 bers of the former frequent the place to watch the " Pot." This, I rather 

 think, does not now exist — in all probability filled up with stones, &c. ; 

 but in former days, the Indians say, a large hole filled with water lay 

 close to the fall, and above it. Salmon used to jump into it in leaping up 

 the falls ; and, there being no means of exit from it, they say the fish 

 might be seen lying dead in it by hundreds. 



My servant was fishing for Trout to-day, behind the camp, with bait. I 

 remarked him pull one. out of the water about the length of his finger, 

 with a swing of the rod enough to raise a hundred weight. He picked up 

 the little fish, pulled out its gills for bait, then returned it to the water. 

 I asked him, " Why throw it away?" " Sure it's no use so small as that, 

 and it will grow." " But don't you see it's dead 1" " Oh Lord, sir ! never 

 you heed it. Thim young Trouts is the most desatefullest things as be ; 

 sure he purtinds to all that, but whin he gets into the deep water, he'll 

 soon away nate and cliver.'' 



July 27th. — Heavy rain last night. I did not fish till evening; then for 

 about an hour. Collingwood at it all day, killing three Salmon and losing 



