636 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



the hook lost its hold and I lost my fish. I hooked another in a few 

 minutes ; he ran around a sunken rock, got a dead pull on my line and 

 broke it, carrying away five or six yards of it, with my casting-line. I 

 had tried this reel line, which was of hair and silk, before leaving home, 

 and found it to bear twelye pounds. Suppose it had rotted from being 

 exposed to the dew by allowing my rod to stand out at night, or from 

 being wound up wet. From the wild antics of the fish I have just lost, I 

 conclude that Salmon do jump. Repaired damages, pushed on, dined at 

 Bittabock, and camped at 6 p. m. on the point of a high rocky bluff thirty 

 feet above the river, which rushes through a narrow gorge below. This 

 station is called " Mid Landing." 



While Peter was unlading the canoe, went above with John and fished 

 down the gulch. Hooked a wicked little fish, and after a race of a hun- 

 dred yards down the rapid, killed it in the small cove under the cliff by 

 the camp. Leaving John to assist Peter in pitching the tent, I walked 

 up the gorge again, rose a fish, rested him, and then hooked him ; shouted 

 for John, who came running with the gaff. Killed this in the same cove 

 as I did the other, but with less resistance. Weight 12 lbs. Fished with 

 my light 16-foot rod to-day ; I believe it stout enough to kill any Salmon 

 in the river — and then the comfort and ease in casting with it. I have 

 used no lubricating oil yet, but have occasionally taken the veil and some- 

 times donned my gauntlets — a pair of old kid gloves, with linen cuffs to 

 fasten under the wristbands of my shirt. I am tired and hungry, writing 

 by the light and in the smoke of my camp-fire. I'll eat a piece of my 

 lively little Salmon, take a smoke and go to bed. 



July 10th. — Went up the gulch at 6 a. m., rose two Salmon, hooked one 

 of 10 lbs., and killed it in the usual place. Ate breakfast. While the 

 men were striking tent and loading the canoe, went above again and 

 hooked another fish. He gave splendid play, running the rapids as if he 

 would not stop short of Bathurst, and making a half-dozen splendid leaps. 

 I could see every move he made when I got down to the camp, being at 

 least thirty feet above him. Killed this fish lower down the cove than where 

 the other three were gaffed. Weight 13 lbs. Arrived at Chain of Rocks 

 at 12 m. A bad camping-ground; no spring near — only river water to 

 drink. Fished the pools in the afternoon ; had two rises ; pricked one. 



July 11th. — This morning tried the pools again — no signs of fish. While 

 at breakfast the card of the occupants of Grand Falls station, inviting 

 me to pay them a visit, was handed to me. Made all as secure as I could 

 in my tent, and went up, two miles distant, passing a beautiful sheet of 



