108 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



as we had left our guns at the boat, we felt no inclination 

 to follow him. 



" Next day we returned to Chaperon's, and the following 

 morning visited the Chute, and found that a fresh batch of 

 fine trout had made their way up the river, low as it was, 

 which afforded us capital sport ; rising greedily at our 

 salmon-flies, and very lively and strong on the line — but 

 we could see no salmon until late in the evening, when 

 we noticed a very large one sucking in some small flies in 

 the middle of the stream. We embarked in the canoe, 

 and both covered him, endeavouring to tempt his palate by 

 various flies resembling those on the water ; using at the 

 same time a single gut casting line, but all in vain. At 

 last, just before starting for home, I tried one more cast 

 over him, when he rose like a young whale, and I found 

 him firm on the hook. The tackle was slender, no doubt, 

 but the delicate fibre that held him prisoner was of the 

 best description, and though of nearly invisible tenuity, 

 possessed gnreat strength, which the flexibilit]' of a long and 

 admirable rod materially assisted. Great was the 



' certaminis gaudium ' 



during the exciting play of that noble fish, and many, 

 many apprehensions had we of the result. But the staunch 

 O'Shaughnessy kept its hold, and the tenacious gut failed 

 not. Finally, after a glorious struggle of an hour and a 

 quarter, this magnificent fish lay gasping on the sand. It 



