FISHERIES. 251 



The blazing torches of birch-bark in the nearer 

 canoes, brightly illuminating the picturesque dress and 

 and attitudes of the French Canadians that manned them, 

 completed the picture. In each canoe were two men 

 equipped in blue shirt and loose trousers, with Indian 

 sash round the waist: one sitting in the bottom using 

 a broad paddle, and the other standing upright, spear in 

 hand, in a cranky little craft, which, even to sit in, 

 requires as much skill and caution as a Cambridge 

 outrigger. 



After we had watched the scene for some time, the 

 blue heaven with its glittering stars was quickly over- 

 spread with black angry clouds, a sighing wind moaned 

 through the woods, followed by bright flashes of rose- 

 coloured lightning, revealing for an instant the dark 

 outlines of the swift canoes, which, with extinguished 

 lights, were deserting the roughening waters, and 

 leaving all in deeper darkness. The lake was soon 

 covered with white breakers, and the low rumblins: of 

 the thunder grew louder, tiU it burst in terrific claps 

 overhead. For an instant or two a distant rushing sound 

 was heard, and then down came a perfect deluge of 

 rain. 



One is at first surprised that spearing could be carried 

 on at all in a lake of dimensions which would lead one to 

 suppose it of considerable depth ; but on the " eel 



